Boiler feed trap



Nov. 6, 1951 D. MGBRIDE BOILER FEED TRAP 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 19,194V *Niv alim/man 5 Nov. 6, 1951 Filed Feb. 19, 1947 D. MCBRIDE BOILERFEED TRAP 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Egg.

,DZ-7 @y MBH@ NOV. 6, 1951 D, McBRlDE 2,574,341

BOILER FEED TRAP Filed Feb. 19, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 6, 1951 D.MCBRIDE 2,574,341

BOILER FEED TRAP Filed Feb. 1 9, 1947 4 sheets-sheet 4 gmac/wrot- CDeiroyjlfcz'ie @www5 Patented Nov. 6, 1951 u N r11 Eo PAT EN o'FElec E;i

BOIEER FEED'TRP Delroy.McBride, Twin Falls, Idaho,

Application FebruaryllS, 1947;'Slial BT67295626 2.1312111115.;v (Cl.137-101) i This-invention relates toboiler feedingfdevices f and: is fan improvement llover-i thecboileif feeding construction embodied: in:my VVVcopending application, No. 680.047,' filed-*June 28; 1946; forBoiler Feed '.Devices,: now.- Patent No.* 2,570596Lot Oct. 9,*- 19511.'-

Anobject of -this invention is tofprovide'an: improvedautomatic'feedingmeans for maintaining a1 predetermined lwater level .ina: boiler which eliminatesall forms :of packing glands'fand pumps orothermeans of forcing-` the Iwater. into theA boiler.

Anotherv object 4of.this..:inver1.ti'oi1..iistoprovidef an"embodimentmithis invention; showing thepositions -of fthe-parts when:the water tankislled with Water;A

Figure -2 lis `an-enlargedf fragmentary vertical section ofthedeviceshowinginv fullL y lines the positions-of=fthe-partsl-whenthewater tank is` in substantiallylffempty; positionf. and showing ,in

dotted lines -thepositionsof .the -parts when the tankishlledf Figure 3lis a fragmentary' sectional-view` taken` on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 lis -a fragmentarysectional View taken FigureA V5lisadiagrammatic view showing* the system with which the -feeding'device is connected tothe boilenf Referringto1 thel draw-ings'A and rstto Figure .5. the-numeral ilsdesignatesgenerally. a vboi1er= of iconventional construction which` has associated i The...-

therewith =a Waterflevelactuated. switchy I I. switch I I`-is-inte11posed in awpairiof .electrical con.-

ductors I 2- andi` I3 aand theseY are. connected as* Willbe lhereinafterdescribed; to.J aY controlling4 switch I4 connected to a source I5 andI6 ofvelec.-

aa.-.-feedingV means `of vthiskiridWhereinf.a series 25tricecurrentsupply.

of-Loats lare mounted on :i4-.iframe Iwhichfis iin-Lsertable-'through'zone end oithewater tank; the end of fthevtanklfb'eing closed lnorinally7 b'y' a:-re.r movable plate.

Afiurther object :of thisinvention-isltofprovidef in a device ofthiskind; anlimprovedimeans-:for: holding the ylovvermost.` floatsagainst movement during'i-theflling of? the Watertanlcuntilmtlie-Ytank-1f has reached a predetermined! level where#v uponrlthev-lowerfloats are automatically releasedV bly an'.v upperv oat andi 'atther-same time aipr-es;4 sureequalizing-4 valve is moved to Vopenposition-- forf equaliZin-g tlie A-pressureon the-upper sidevofi thewatery witliir1=the tank y to az-pointl equa/'liftethebioilenpressure sothat the Waterinthe-tanlr;A can gravitatingly flow ltof the boiler.

Af-furtherobject-"of` this invention-ist@ provide;- a boilerfeeding'meansof-this kind which is-posi-IA tiverin itsoperationand-which can be made out ofi: relatively4 strong andf simplyconstructed ele'- mentsin orderlthatfthe 4moving-parts will notbe undulydamaged by corrosion.

W-ith4V the above and otherfobjects ini'view, my inventionconsistslinthe arrangement, combination f and details of'Y constructiondisclosed the'- drawings and specification; and then more particularlypointed' outinthe appendedfclaims.'

In` the drawings;

Figure l iis a Ylongitudinal section'taken through af'boilerieedingmeansvconstructedA according-'to inneA water m. y theiboiler Ieril is'adaptedzito Vte maintained at'f aapredetermined level .by means The tank I I isdisposed on fia-level abovel the' top. .ofv the-,boiler Ilr andisfconnected tothe boiler Iii` of a-feeding tank generallydesignatedasIl.

byV means ofa pipe1I8.,vThef-pipe I8 is connected to the. bottomofzthewater feedingnieans I1 and:A extends. downwardly. and forwardly,having interposed'. .thereina pair of checkiivalves I9 and1 2li.

cylindrical. wall' thereof.' and the-other end, of theL-tank- 2 I isclosed byza Aremovable head 23.;

The.; water'A conducting pipes. I8;'isl connectedftoV a-bushinglitxed'to-.the cylindric'alwallof the tank2l, andfitheA cylindrical,WalLof the tank alsonhasfavsecond t bushing or-nipple 25; fixedL theretowith which a water intake pipe: 26fis1 connected; The pipe.2if:extends@upwardly,y from thetank- 2I1 andi-is?connected.y to thebottonrof anfupper supply tank-'21. Thesupply tank-2.1 isconnectedto--a`water supply: source -by means ofa'pipe 28, havingA afloatoperatedvalve 29-in terposed therein.

The-water pipe 261has; interposed'thereina check valve 35iopening-inthe-directionof the tank 2| and an electrically operated-valve3i' is alsointerposedfin the pipe'26- andis connected at* one side'- toav conductor- I2; andaty the other.

The. boiler feeding means I'I in. cludes a cylindrical. ta11k. .2|,fhaving one vhead `22Y fixedly secured as :by :welding orthe like to the.

side by conductor 32 to switch |4. A manually operated valve 33 is alsointerposed in the pipe 28 so that if desired the ow of water from thepressure tank 21 may be manually regulated.

The tank 2| has mounted therein a removable frame structure 34 whichincludes a pair of vertically disposed side frame members 35 and 36which engage on L-shaped guides or tracks 31 and 38 fixed as by Weldingor the like on the inside of the tank 2| adjacent the end head 23. Arrame locking bolt 39 is adapted to extend through bushings 40 xed tothe tank 2|, and the bushings 48 are extended outwardly through the tank2| as indicated at 42 so that the bolt 39 may be removed or insertedthrough the bushings 48 from the outside of the tank.

The bolt 39 extends through the angled guides 31, 38, and through thelower outer portions of the frame members 35 and 36 as shown in Figuresl and 2. The frame 34 has swingably mounted between the side members 35and 38 v thereof a lower iioat 43 which is carried by an obtusely angledarm 44. The arm 44 is xed to a sleeve 45 which is rockably mounted on ashaft 46 extending across the frame members 35 and 36. The lever arm 44has extending angularly from the outer end thereof a short lever arm 41which is disposed at substantially right angles to the outer portion ofthe arm 44, and the arm 41 has pivotally secured thereto one end of areleasing link 48.

A second oat 49 is disposed within the tank 2|, being secured to anelongated lever arm 5U which is secured to a sleeve 5| rockably mountedon a shaft 52 extending between the frame members 35 and 36. The noatlever 58 has fixed thereto at a point inwardly from the outer endthereof a ilanged disk 53 formed with an annular flange 54 with which ahook 55 carried by the link 48 is adapted to engage. The hook 55 looselyenf 58 having a weight 59 on its outer end. The concave side of thelever 58 is adapted to confront the flanged disk 53 at the time thefloat 49 is in its lowermost position, as shown in Figure 2.

A third 01 upper oat 60 is fixed to an obtusely angled float lever 6|which is fixed to a sleeve 62 rockably mounted on a shaft 63, extendingbetween the frame members 35 and 38., The float lever 6| also includesan angled lever extension 64, extending from the rear or outer endthereof, which has pivotally connected thereto a releasing link 65. Thereleasing link 65 extends downwardly and inwardly and is adapted toslidingly engage the upper peripheral side of the flange 54.

A weighted intermediate float locking member 68 is carried by a sleeve61 loosely mounted on a shaft 68, extending between the frame members 35and 36, and the locking member 66 is gravitatingly urged downward tolocking position by means of a weight 69 extending substantially atright angles to the length of the locking member 66. When the lockingmember 66 is in locked position it will be slightly to the left of thevertical plane passing through the axis of the securing member 18 forthe flanged disk 53 so that the locking member 68 will not accidentallybe moved forwardly upon pressure exerted on the flanged disk 53 byupward movement of the float 49.

In order to provide for equalizing the pressure on the upper side of thewater in the tank 2| when the floats 53, 59 and -60 are in theiruppermost positions, I have provided a steam valve 1| which is securedto the top of the tank 2| and has a weighted stem 12 normally biasingvalve '1| to a closed position. The valve 1| is connected to a steamsupply pipe 13 which is connected to the top of the boiler |0.

In order to provide for the opening of the valve 1| whenthe intermediatefloat 49 is released for upward movement, I have provided a valveoperating rod 14 which is connected at its lower end to the oat lever 50adjacent the outer end portion thereof. The rod 14 is slidable through aguide 15 xed to the upper portion of the frame 34, being secured to across bar 16 extending between the upper portions of the frame members35 and 36. The upper portion of the rod 14 has a sleeve 11 xed theretoand the sleeve 11 has extending horizontally therefrom a valve operatingarm 18. The stem 12 extends through the arm 18, and preferably a pair ofspaced nuts 19 and are threaded on the stem 12 so that the stem 12 willnot be moved upwardly to valve opening position until the intermediatevalve operating float 49 has moved upwardly to substantially the limitof its upward movement. The intermediate iioat 49 is limited to itsupward movement by means of the upper stop 8| fixed to the frame member36 and is limited as to its downward movement by means of a second stop82 also fixed to the frame member 36 at a point spaced downwardly fromthe upper stop 8|. At the time the noats are in their lowermostpositions, and assuming that water is entering the tank 2 i, the tank 2|is exhausted above the level of the water entering the tank through anexhaust valve 83.

The valve 83 is normally urged to a closed position by a pivoted weight92 carried by the frame, and includes a stem 84 which is connected to asecond Valve operating arm 85 carried by the sleeve or bushing 11. Alower nut 86 is threaded on the stem 84 so that the valve 83 may beaccurately adjusted to provide for the opening thereof at the time thearm 85 is in substantially its lowermost position.

The intermediate oat 49 which is the largest of the three oats issubstantially balanced in its vertical movement by means of a weight 81rockably mounted on a pivot 88 extending through a supporting arm 89carried by the frame 34. The weight 81 includes a lever 98 having oneend of a link 9| pivotally connected thereto. The other end of the link9| is pivotally connected to the float lever 50 at a point closelyadjacent the outer end of the float 49. The system with which thefeeding means |1 is connected is identical with the system shown anddescribed in my copending application supra, and it is believed that afurther detailed description of this system is not necessary in thisapplication.

In the use and operation of this boiler feeding means, the flow of waterfrom the supply tank 21 to the feeding tank 2| is electrically regulatedby the float operated switch This switch is connected to the electricalvalve 3| which upon drop of the water level in the boiler I0 will openthe valve 3| and permit water from the supply tank 21 to now through thepipe 26 intcthe tank 2|. Assuming that the tank 2| is substantiallyempty, the several floats will be in the full line positions shown inFigure 2. The lower float 43 will be substantially in contact with thebottom of the tank 2| and the oat lever 5D will be in engagement withthe lower stop 82.

At this time the locking member 66 will be gravitatingly held in itslocking position with respect to the intermediate float and thereleasing link 85 will be in the position shown in Figure 2. The loweroat may rise to a limited extent when the water level initially rises,the lower float being held against extreme upward movement by rearwardpull on the releasing link 48 which is positioned between the lever 51and the ange 54. As the hook 55 carried by the link 48 moves rearwardly,the locking member 66 will be rocked upwardly toward the flange 54 andthe lever 51 will bind the hook 55 with respect to the flange 54.

After the water level passes above the lower oat 43, it will rise abovethe locked intermediate valve operating oat 49 which is locked in itslower position by the weighted locking member 56. The water level willthereupon rise until the upper oat 60 is engaged. This upper float 60will then move upwardly and as lioat 60 rises, releasing link 65 will bepushed downwardly and inwardly, thereby forcing locking member 66inwardly past the center of the anged disk 53 so that the valveoperating float 49 can now move upwardly to steam valve openingposition. With float 49 in the upper position which is limited by thestop 8|, valve 1l will be open and steam will enter the tank 2| on thetop of the water, thereby equalizing the steam pressure on the upperside of the water so that the water can now gravitatingly ow past thedownwardly opening check valves I9 and 20 into the boiler.

When the intermediate oat 49 is in its uppermost steam valve openingposition, the holding or locking member 56 will be in its lockedposition as shown in Figure l, wherein the float lever 5U is locked inits upper position. As the water level drops in the tank 2|, the steamvalve 1| is held in its open position until the water has beensubstantially discharged from the tank. After the water level dropsbelow the lower float 43, this float will swing downwardly and upondownward swinging of this oat. releasing link 48 will be moved inwardlythereby pushing holding member 56 inwardly to released position. Whenholding member 56 is in released position, the oat 49 can gravitatinglyswing downwardly and steam valve 1| will be spring-pressed g to itsnormal closed position. When valve 1| is in its closed position, exhaustvalve 83 will be in its open position so that the tank 2| is again readyfor its feeding cycle.

I do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of constructionherein disclosed, but claim all variations falling within the purview orthe appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A water feeding means for a steam boiler comprising a tank includinga removable head, a oat supporting frame in said tank, means removablysecuring said frame in said tank, a steam valve carried by said tank andconnected to said boiler, said valve being normally biased to closedposition, an exhaust valve normally biased to an opposite open position,a valve operating float rockably carried by said frame, means connectingsaid oat with said valves whereby upon upward movement of said floatsaid steam valve will be moved to open position, and said exhaust valvesimultaneously will be moved to closed position, gravity actuatedlocking means carried by said frame for locking said float againstupward movement, and float operated releasing means carried by saidframe correlated with said locking means to thereby move the latter toreleased position when the water level in said tank reaches apredetermined height, and means connecting said tank with said boilerwhereby the water in said tank will gravitate to said boiler at the timesaid steam valve is open and the pressure in said tank is equal to theboiler pressure.

2. A water feeding means for a steam boiler comprising a tank includinga removable head, a iloat supporting frame in said tank, means removablysecuring said frame in said tank, a steam valve carried by said tank andconnected to said boiler, said valve being normally biased to closedposition, an exhaust valve normally biased to an opposite open position,a valve operating oat rockably carried by said frame, means connectingsaid float with said valves whereby upon upward movement of said floatsaid steam valve will be moved to open position, and said exhaust valvewill be simultaneously moved to a closed position, gravity actuatedlocking means carried by said frame for locking said loat against upwardmovement, oat operated releasing means carried by said frame correlatedwith said locking means to thereby move the latter to released positionwhen the water level in said tank reaches a predetermined height, meansconnecting said tank with said boiler whereby the water in said tankwill gravitate to said boiler at the time said steam valve is open andthe pressure in said tank is equal to the boller pressure, a secondgravity actuated locking means for locking said oat in its upper valveopening position, and a second float actuated releasing means correlatedwith said second locking means for releasing the latter to therebypermit said float to swing downwardly when the water level in said tankdrops to a predetermined point.

DELROY MCBRIDE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 341,737 Eastman May 11, 1886346,146 Clarke July 27, 1886 377,305 Hladky Jan. 31, 1888 495,377 SearleApr. 11, 1893

